Judge considers new bail bid by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs appeared in court on November 22nd in a third attempt to secure bail ahead of his criminal trial for sex trafficking and racketeering in May 2025.
Following a slew of misconduct accusations made against Combs over the last 12 months, he was arrested in September and has since been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He has offered a $50,000,000 bond for bail and promised to follow strict house arrest instructions, but despite this, he has been denied twice in his attempts and has now tried for a third time.
Combs has pled not guilty to the charges he faces and denies all accusations of wrongdoing related to the criminal investigation.
At a court hearing, Combs’ legal team pleaded with Judge Arun Subramanian that he isn’t a threat to society. However, in the two-hour session, the prosecution also laid out their reasoning as to why they believe Combs should remain in custody. A decision is expected to be made next week.
“The defendant here has demonstrated either he cannot, or he will not follow rules. The defendant, simply put, cannot be trusted,” Prosecutor Christine Slavik alleged in court, claiming that Combs has been contacting the outside world while in prison.
Furthermore, Slavik alleged that Combs violated the judge’s order preventing him from public statements and claimed that Combs admitted to this in one message. The lawyer quoted Combs allegedly saying he needed to “reach for this jury. I just need one [juror].”
Additionally, Combs allegedly went against orders by allowing his family to share a message on his official Instagram account to celebrate his recent birthday. Slavis said that Combs was told, “The lawyers say we shouldn’t do it”, to which he allegedly replied, “I don’t care. It’s my birthday.”
Meanwhile, a legal representative for Combs stated that he’d be less likely to come into contact with outside people if he was detained at his home with private security who could keep a close eye on him.
However, the judge ruled out the possibility of Combs being allowed to live at his mansion in Miami due to its private boat dock, stating it’s “not going to work.” In response, Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, proposed an alternative, saying that the Bad Boy Founder could instead live at his three-bedroom apartment in Manhattan.
Cassie assault video
The court hearing came days after representatives for Combs claimed that the government had altered footage of him attacking his former partner, Cassie Ventura, in a hotel lobby in 2016.
Slavik denied these allegations, stating, “The cell phone footage shows the exact same thing as the CNN video. I don’t think there is a discrepancy in what both videos show. He throws her to the ground, he kicks her, he drags her. That was not edited.”
Furthermore, Slavik said the government does not have access to the original surveillance video, which went viral on social media and led to Combs offering up a public apology.
In defence of Combs, Shapiro alleged that the musician was attempting to retrieve his clothes and phone from Ventura in the footage.
“The sequencing is actually very important,” Shapiro said. In response, the judge said, “There was dragging and there was kicking. There was shoving.”
Shapiro then claimed the footage was taken from the end period of a “consensual, long-term, loving relationship”. However, Slavik said, “This is a case about violence. The defendant has engaged in physical, sexual, and emotional abuse of his romantic partners for years.”
A decision on Combs’ bail hearing is expected next week.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.